windswell days

Last year's May was an unprecedented streak of no wind days and glassy surf: very unusual.
This year is the exact opposite. A super strong high pressure is creating blustery trade winds and the related windswell is pretty much the only form of waves you can see on the north shore.

The photos of the day from yesterday afternoon at Hookipa go to a couple that recently lost a young daughter after a long fight with cancer.
This is the firefighter dad.


And judging from the gear, I'm pretty sure (but not 100%) that this is the mum.
My big respect goes to them for the incredible pain they must be going through.
Windsurfing is a great way of getting thoughts and feelings out of your mind for a few minutes.


Here's the other photos in chronological order.
Skyler Haywood tried to go to college on the mainland. Understandably, it didn't work out. He came back to Maui and signed up at the Maui Community College. Might not be the best college on Earth, but his sailing is now improving by the day.



On most of his waves, you can expect Browsinho to throw either a taka, a goiter or a 360. Just a regular aerial or top turn must feel like average moves to him...
Notice the very close hands on the boom.


Skyler.


This was a sweet very hesitated forward by Juanma.


Two nice windsurfing asses in one shot... that's a rarity!
The one on the left is well known, and I had the pleasure to meet the one on the right at the party for the inauguration of Sara's new boutique in Paia later in the afternoon. Lovely girl.


Well, judging from this photo stolen from FB, it looks like I left too early and missed the usual Ulli's show.


Browsinho 360.


Nico. I missed two of his backloops way higher than this one... da hell, I should be more focused on the only mauisurfreport team rider...


I heard a few people say that the Mark Angulo's Mutant is just a wave 360 off the lip.
Right.


Hey Jeff, can you design me a sail as light and efficient as that?


Bernd managed to find a wave that was head high for him!


I missed the good ones, but I got a bail...


Elena shows off her self designed rash guard. What a figure!


Next three is Skyler, showing that he was aptly named.




Browsinho goiter.


This is Mark riding clew first. He has all three fins out and just a bit of rail in the water... too bad I don't remember if he fell or not.


Aurelian.


The end of another day at the office for Francky. Here's the photos he took.


Browsinho.


Skyler.


Most of the times, when you break the mast you damage the sail too. The best you can expect is a hole in the mast sleeve. But most times you end up tearing one of more panels of the sail. Unless it's a Hot Sails Maui, of course.
The webbing they put on the mast sleeve is incredibly tough. I remember one session in which Andres broke the mast one foot from the top and he kept sailing for almost an hour looping, ripping and wipeing out. He wanted to see if he could break that thing and he didn't manage to.
Nonetheless, I asked Jeff not to put the webbing in my new custom sail (stay tuned for part two, coming soon) in order to reduce the weight. He said:"Nah, your sail will be built light enough and we better put the webbing on the sleeve, otherwise breaking the mast will mean the death of the sail". You can see he has a point...

Total amount of money this guy will have to spend to fix the sail: zero, nada, nil.


More (and way better) photos of the day from Jimmie.